Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM4’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM4’, characterized by its tall, upright to slightly outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous and sturdy growth habit; leaves that are initially dark green in color becoming dark greyed purple in color with development; numerous inflorescences with white-colored flowers; and good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Botanical designation: Lagerstroemia x ‘JM4’.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JM4’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Crapemyrtle Plant Named ‘JM1’

Applicant: Jack Mitchell Magee

U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/350,178

Title: Crapemyrtle Plant Named ‘JM3’

Applicant: Jack Mitchell Magee

U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/350,180

Title: Crapemyrtle Plant Named ‘JM5’

Applicant: Jack Mitchell Magee

U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/350,175

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant, botanically known as Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM4’ and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘JM4’.

The new Crapemyrtle plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Poplarville, Miss. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new vigorous and freely-branching Crapemyrtle plants with dark-colored leaves and attractive flower colors.

The new Crapemyrtle plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor during the summer of 2015 of Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez White’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Lagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony Flame’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Crapemyrtle plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in May, 2016 as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled nursery environment in Poplarville, Miss.

Asexual reproduction of the new Crapemyrtle plant by vegetative softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Poplarville, Miss. since August, 2016 has shown that the unique features of the new Crapemyrtle plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘JM4’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘JM4’ as a new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant:

-   -   1. Tall, upright to slightly outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Vigorous and sturdy growth habit.     -   4. Leaves that are initially dark green in color becoming dark         greyed purple in color with development.     -   5. Numerous inflorescences with white-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Natchez White’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Natchez White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more upright than and not         as outwardly spreading as plants of ‘Natchez White’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark greyed purple-         colored leaves (developed) whereas plants of ‘Natchez White’         have light green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Ebony Flame’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of Ebony Flame in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are taller and more vigorous         than plants of ‘Ebony Flame’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark greyed purple-colored         leaves (developed) whereas plants of ‘Ebony Flame’ have dark         purple-colored leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have white-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘Ebony Flame’ have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM1’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/350,178. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘JM1’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are taller, more upright and         more vigorous than plants of ‘JM1’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark greyed purple-colored         leaves (developed) whereas plants of ‘JM1’ have dark         green-colored leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have white-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘JM3’ have dark red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM3’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/350,180. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘JM3’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are taller, more upright and         more vigorous than plants of ‘JM3’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have white-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘JM3’ have light purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can also be compared to plants of Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM5’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/350,175. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘JM5’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are taller, more upright and         more vigorous than plants of ‘JM5’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have white-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘JM5’ have light red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the Lagerstroemia indica x Lagerstroemia fauriei ‘Sarah's Favorite’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Sarah's Favorite’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more upright than and not         as outwardly spreading as plants of ‘Sarah's Favorite’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark greyed purple-colored         leaves (developed) whereas plants of ‘Sarah's Favorite’ have         light green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the Lagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony and Ivory’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Ebony and Ivory’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more upright than and not         as outwardly spreading as plants of ‘Ebony and Ivory’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘Ebony and Ivory’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Crapemyrtle plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Crapemyrtle plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘JM4’ grown in a container in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘JM4’ grown in a container in an outdoor nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 7-gallon containers in Park Hill, Okla. and Fort Worth, Tex. during the summer in outdoor nurseries and under cultural conditions which closely approximate commercial Crapemyrtle production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 33° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were three years when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM4’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez             White’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony Flame’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative softwood and hardwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About one             month at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About one             month for softwood cuttings and about two months for             hardwood cuttings at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             brownish white in color, actual color is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright to             slightly outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and             sturdy growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about four main             basal branches each with numerous secondary and tertiary             lateral branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 165 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 73 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 162 cm.         -   Diameter, at the base.—About 1.75 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Erect to about 25° from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; matte; woody with age.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 187B.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 199A to 199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N187A tinged with             close to 187A; venation, close to 144A tinged with close to             187A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             midvein, close to N144A and lateral venation, close to 144A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Showy single ruffled             flowers arranged in terminal panicles; freely flowering             habit with usually about twelve flowers per inflorescence             and numerous inflorescences developing during the flowering             season; flowers face upright and outwardly; flowers not             persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Crapemyrtle             flower during the late summer into the autumn in Fort Worth,             Tex.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 15 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Obovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six arranged in             a single whorl. Lobe length: About 1 cm. Lobe diameter:             About 1.3 cm. Stalk length: About 5 mm. Shape: Roughly             orbicular. Apex: Rounded, undulate; ruffled. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Entire, undulate; ruffled. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; soft; delicate; matte.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             NN155D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             NN155D. Stalk: Close to 58A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six arranged in             a single whorl. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 4 mm.             Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 142A to 142B. When opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 45° from stem             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About             twelve. Filament length: About 7.5 mm. Filament color: Close             to NN155D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oval to             spherical. Anther color: Close to 12A. Amount of pollen:             None. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 1.8 cm. Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: Close             to 187A. Stigma appearance: Spherical. Stigma color: Close             to 148A. Ovary: Close to 11A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed on plants of the new Crapemyrtle. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 38° C. and to be     cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been     observed to be resistant to leaf spot (Cercospora lythracearum) and     powdery mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemia). Plants of the new     Crapemyrtle have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Crapemyrtle plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM4’ as illustrated and described. 